'Endgame' Storms World; EU's War on Social Media; Amazon-Sinclair Team-Up?; T. Swift Returns

What's news: Europe's new copyright law could have a big ripple effect throughout Hollywood and the tech world. Plus: NBCU is exploring selling its Hulu stake, Sinclair eyes an Amazon team-up and the Avengers: Endgame storms the world with box office records. — Will Robinson April 26, 2019 What's news: Europe's new copyright law could have a big ripple effect throughout Hollywood and the tech world. Plus: NBCU is exploring selling its Hulu stake, Sinclair eyes an Amazon team-up and the Avengers: Endgame storms the world with box office records. — Will Robinson ^Europe's copyright crackdown: The EU's recent changes to its copyright laws has frustrated the world's tech giants and could weaken protections, Scott Roxborough reports: + Massive impact: "For the platforms, the [EU directive] is a complete paradigm shift — it changes everything," says Stephan Dreyer, a senior researcher in media law and media governance at the University of Hamburg in Germany. "It completely shifts the position of power from the platforms to the rights holders. For Facebook, Google and company, it won't be easy." + News publishers' ask: Big publishing companies also hope the directive will close the "value gap" in news and journalism. A section of the legislation requires aggregators such as Google News to pay a "link tax" if they reproduce snippets or previews of an article in their search results. Richard Gingras, Google's vp news, has warned that the company could switch off its Google News service entirely in the EU if the "link tax" proves too onerous or unworkable. + Exec/creative split: The Motion Picture Association has warned that the new law hurts film and television producers by "improving the position of platforms, but not of rights holders" because the platforms can escape liability for copyright violation if they can show they made their "best efforts" to detect and block illegal content. Meanwhile, many in the creative community see the directive as a key first step towards a rebalance of power between European writers and the industry's traditional gatekeepers — be they broadcasters, studios or platforms. [Full story.]( Blistering Pace Global domination: Through two days abroad, Avengers: Endgame has pulled in more than $200 million in China alone, and is on track to go beyond $300 million in its first weekend, Patrick Brzeski reports: + New projection: Most analysts originally expected Endgame to bring in around $270 million during its five-day opening frame in China. But rave word of mouth among Chinese filmgoers is fueling the film to even greater heights. Leading local ticketing company Maoyan currently projects Endgame will end the weekend with about $324 million. * Opening day success: Endgame was released in China on Wednesday, two days before its U.S. debut. It bowed to $107.2 million, [smashing]( the all-time single-day record previously held by local tentpole Monster Hunt 2 (2019) at $85 million. + Other records set: Endgame touched down in its first 25 markets, setting all-time industry single-day records in many areas (including South Korea, Australia, France, Italy and Germany), Pamela McClintock reports. All markets saw bows above that of Avengers: Infinity War when opening on the same day. Fandango said Endgame had bested Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the ticketing service's top preseller of all time, with 8,000 showtimes already sold out. + What Bob Iger is eyeing: Marvel Studios and Disney's superhero juggernaut is virtually assured of shattering box-office records with a projected global launch of $900 million to $950 million, if not more. That could include a potential all-time best of $270 million to $300 million in North America, where the pic is set to unfurl in 4,600 theaters, the widest release ever. [Full story.]( -> Plot refreshers: Before seeing the movie this weekend, read up on who Thanos [snapped away]( and [what exactly]( the Infinity Stones are. * Marvel's biggest missteps: Over the past 11 years, the MCU has largely yielded box office gold, but not all parts of the films have been perfect, from female representation to Tony Stark's endless fortune, John DeFore writes. [Critic's notebook.]( Elsewhere in film... ► Sony film unit's full-year profit rises to $488M. Operating income at the film unit was [driven by]( TV licensing and home entertainment sales of higher-margin titles, including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Peter Rabbit, and lower theatrical marketing expenses. Profit also jumped at Sony's game division, to $2.78 billion, on revenue of $20.69 billion, despite slowing console sales. ► Imax forecasts its "strongest box office year ever," touts Endgame. The giant-screen exhibitor reports the Avengers installment, shot entirely with Imax cameras, had domestic pre-sales of $21 million, up 70 percent compared to Avengers: Infinity War. Endgame [earned]( $13.9 million in China alone on its opening day, a record for Imax. ► John Singleton in coma following "major stroke." In an application for temporary conservatorship, the director's mother said that he was [involved]( in a "lucrative settlement agreement" at the time of the medical emergency. ► After Deadpool 2 set death, Fox settles with family of stuntperson Joi Harris. Harris [was killed]( in August 2017 while riding a high-powered Ducati motorcycle down a ramp laid atop a set of stairs. Michael Buckley, a Florida based attorney who represented Harris’s relatives said the studio was very accommodating in its dealing with the family. ► PGA promotes Susan Sprung to national executive director & COO. Spring will [serve alongside]( longtime national executive director Vance Van Petten, who continues in his role. ► Fear, Inc. duo sets Christian film industry satire. The comedy, Faith Based, will see Luke Barnett and Tanner Thomason play friends who hope to [tap into]( the lucrative faith-based film market. ► Abramorama nabs The Serengeti Rules doc for North America. The film about a group of pioneering ecologists bowed at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival and is [set for]( a May theatrical release. Admissions scandal fallout... ► Lori Loughlin & husband "didn't realize" actions were illegal. “You read the complaint and they look like criminal masterminds,” a source tells Steve Helling. “But they really didn’t know the legalities of what was going on. They’re not lawyers and they’re not experts. They were parents who simply wanted to make sure that their daughters got into a good school.” [[People](] ^Taylor Swift returns: The pop star released her new song "ME!" along with a pastel-filled music video, after weeks of speculation and a countdown on her website. Panic! At the Disco frontman Brendon Urie is featured on the track. [Watch.]( * Hear it live, soon: The singer will be [opening]( Wednesday's Billboard Music Awards by performing the track. On the festival circuit... ► Steven Zaillian to chair 2019 Ischia Global Fest. The Oscar-winning writer, director and producer will [oversee]( the annual film and music festival off the coast of Naples. ► The Secret of a Leader wins main prize at Moscow. Valerio Mastandrea [collects]( the best director award for Ride. The special jury prize, the Silver St George, went to the Chinese film In Search of Echo, directed by Zhang Chi. Around town... ► NBA, Sacramento Kings launch investigation into sex assault allegation against Luke Walton. Reporter Kelli Tennant held a press conference Wednesday afternoon in which she [accused]( Walton of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room in late 2014. She has filed a lawsuit over the allegation, which Walton has denied. Musical notes... -> John Lennon-owned album worth up to $180K highlights Beatles auction. The May 9 event in Liverpool features roughly 300 items, including Ringo Starr's wristwatch, a drawing by George Harrison, four of Paul McCartney's signed bass guitars, and a rare 'Yesterday and Today' album owned by John Lennon. [Top picks.]( Console wars... ► Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Unity downloaded 3M times after Notre Dame fire. The French video game company made the 2014 title available for free on PC and [pledged to donate]( 500,000 euros to the reconstruction effort. Coming attractions... Trailer: Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth get a sidekick in Men in Black: International. The latest look at the Sony spinoff goes deeper into the new agents' background and partnership. [Watch.]( Enjoy reading this? Six days a week, look for Today in Entertainment in your inbox to stay up-to-date on the industry. Sign up for this newsletter (and others) at [THR.com/Newsletters](. Crafting 'At the Heart of Gold' Redemptive story: Filmmaker Erin Lee Carr discusses her documentary about Larry Nassar and the USA Gymnastics scandal, which just premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and airs on HBO next week, Marisa Guthrie reports: + Handling difficult material: "What I find so empowering is you can see these women stand up and confront their abuser. And it's helped me get through making this film; that these women are taking back their agency in a way that is revolutionary," Carr says. "So when you ask me if it's hard for conduct these interviews. Yes. But you know who it was harder for? The survivors." + Empowering the victims: "This is a painful process so it's like can you spend 90 minutes inside these young women's brains and [hear] their journey? I think ultimately it's incredibly redemptive," Carr says. "And that we can get there and we can protect our kids and we can be a voice for change. I don't want people to get scared off by the subject matter. Ultimately it's not you listening to Larry Nassar. It's listening to women." [Full interview.]( * How was it received?: "[E]ach of the women Nassar preyed upon are clearly at different stages of acceptance, which often undercuts the aura of universal empowerment that the film is trying to cultivate. Carr does seem aware of this contradiction, and she works hard in the early going to position Nassar's crimes as one symptom of a much larger, potentially perennial disease," Keith Uhlich writes. [Full review.]( Elsewhere in TV... ► Amazon, Sinclair might team up for Disney-Fox RSNs. "Sinclair ... is looking for Amazon’s backing as it preps a roughly $9 billion, all-cash offer for the so-called RSNs, sources said. The overall value of the deal will be around $10 billion, including minority stakes in the RSNs not owned by Fox." [[New York Post](] ► Comcast considering selling off 30 percent Hulu stake to Disney. "Comcast is now weighing the pros and cons of doing a deal now rather than later, said these people, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private. It’s still unclear if a deal will transpire." [[CNBC](] ► Fox vet Shannon Ryan jumps to ABC & Disney TV Studios as new marketing president. Ryan will [oversee]( marketing, publicity and communications at the broadcast network and Disney's various TV studios. Ryan enjoyed a strong run at the Fox network over two decades, most recently serving as the CMO of Fox Television Group ► Wahlburgers to end with season 10 on A&E. The unscripted series featuring Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg and their restaurant chain is [bowing out]( after 90-plus episodes. -> Broadcast networks turn to comedy in next wave of live TV stunts. ABC's All in the Family and Jeffersons special is part of a larger push to reinvigorate the space, Lesley Goldberg reports. "If you're in broadcast, urgency and immediacy have to be at the top of your list," one top broadcast executive tells THR. "You want to be at the [center of cultural conversation](." ► Rideback TV incubator unveils writers & mentors for inaugural session. The initiative, [launched]( in February by Dan Lin's company and MRC, will offer eight writers a paid, eight-month residency program that aims to create the next generation of TV creators. Talking points... ► In call to Hannity, Trump deems Russia probe attempted "coup." During a phone conversation with Sean Hannity on Thursday night, Trump also [commented]( on former Vice President Joe Biden confirming his 2020 presidential campaign: "He's not the brightest light bulb in the group." ^Salem Radio is quietly becoming a conservative media giant: The California-based broadcaster's digital acquisitions have turned heads, but the company's revenues primarily come from 116 radio stations in 39 markets, Jeremy Barr reports: + Staffing up: Salem, based in Camarillo, California, has grown in political influence by snapping up digital properties from partisans like Michelle Malkin (Twitchy, Hot Air) while adding pro-Trump radio voices like former Fox News contributor Sebastian Gorka, which may help the company compete with titans iHeartRadio (home to Rush Limbaugh) and Westwood One (featuring Mark Levin). + Niche audience: In the fourth quarter of 2018, Salem brought in about $51.1 million in net broadcast revenue and $11.5 million in digital revenue. (Sinclair's total media revenue for the same period was $848.9 million.) "The beauty of Salem is that we look at our company as serving some very distinct audiences and doing that better than anybody else," says broadcast media president Dave Santrella. [Full story.]( From the Live Feed... -> Gotham boss explains why Batman was barely in series finale. "When it came down to it, that wasn’t the focus," ep John Stephens tells Sydney Bucksbaum about why he pulled back on showing Bruce Wayne/Batman in the cinematic series finale. "The focus was the city." [Full interview.]( Honorees... ► Michael Douglas to get Monte Carlo TV Festival lifetime honor. The Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner will be [presented]( the prize from Prince Albert II. ► Rosemary Harris, Terrence McNally, Harold Wheeler to receive lifetime Tonys. The veteran actress, prolific playwright and esteemed musician all have numerous Broadway credits to their names, dating back to the 1950s and '60s. [Details.]( Coming attractions... ► Trailer: Deadwood movie sets stage for final showdown. The film, set 10 years after the events of its last season, reunites most of the show's cast. [Watch.]( New TV's Top 5 podcast. In this week's episode, hosts Daniel Fienberg and Lesley Goldberg discuss Empire's future, HBO's busy week and how broadcast networks are looking for the next big live production. [Listen]( | [Subscribe]( Making the World of 'Mrs. Maisel' Inside the craft: Production designer Bill Groom (Mrs. Maisel, SNL) is the latest to be featured on THR's Magic Hour, an original creators series profiling the process behind the most inspiring creatives in the entertainment industry: + Re-creating 1950s NYC: "People have commented on the level of detail on the show and I can't imagine doing it any other way," Groom said. "You feel it when you read the script, what it needs to be, and I enjoy the process of the discovery of what the project is." [Watch]( | [Magic Hour]( What else we're reading... — "Visiting Pride Rock." Marc Snetiker goes on the set of The Lion King — director Jon Favreau: “It’s almost like we’re relaunching a classic stage piece, casting it in a way that brings a new spin to it and makes it exciting and interesting." [[EW](] — "Accused College Bribery Parent Stripped of Millions of Dollars." Dan Primack reports: "[Bill] McGlashan's former employer, TPG Capital, will deny him all vested and unvested interests in funds whose portfolio companies include Airbnb and Uber." [[Axios](] — "Why Isn’t Hulu Better?" Michael D. Smith and Rahul Telang ask: "Hulu’s problem, and the problem we believe each major studio will face as it enters the streaming market, is that it’s hard to fully realize the benefits of a new business model when your organizational structure is designed to protect the old one." [[Harvard Business Review](] — "How Fortnite’s Success Led to Months of Intense Crunch." Colin Campbell reports from inside Epic Games: "Although contract staff were paid overtime, developers report a culture of fear, in which they were expected to pull long hours as part of their job. Some reported suffering health issues after working consecutive months of 70-hour weeks." [[Polygon](] — "The New Vacation Perk: Celebrity Encounters." Kevin Doyle details: "Now that competition for likes on Instagram and Facebook has turned travel into a blood sport of sorts, posting a vacation photo with a new celebrity pal in front of the Great Pyramids or in a South African vineyard is one way to beat your besties in likes and followers." [[The Wall Street Journal](] Last night, on late night... + "Trevor Noah examines Dems divided on impeachment." [[The Daily Show](] + "Paul Rudd fainted in Hong Kong bathroom, woke up in odd position." [[Tonight Show](] From the archives... + Today in 1934: Paramount unveiled Henry Hathaway's thriller The Witching Hour in theaters. Starring Sir Guy Standing and John Halliday, the suspenseful pic was applauded for its production values and acting: "When you come right down to it, it's a lot of hokum, but while you're in the theatre your hands are clammy." [Flashback review.]( Today's birthdays: Emily Wickersham, 35, Channing Tatum, 39, Jordana Brewster, 39, Pablo Schreiber, 41, Stana Katic, 41, Tom Welling, 42, Kevin James, 54, Jet Li, 56, Giancarlo Esposito, 61, Carol Burnett, 86. Follow The News Is this email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( ©2019 The Hollywood Reporter. 5700 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 All rights reserved. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Preferences]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Terms of Use]( April 26, 2019